Meehan to face child porn trial

The former partner of Shannon Matthews' mother will go on trial later this year on charges of possessing child pornography, a district judge has said.

Craig Meehan, 22, appeared at Dewsbury Magistrates Court accused of possessing 140 indecent images of children, which were allegedly found on a computer at the home he shared with Karen Matthews.

Meehan was remanded back into custody by District Judge Jonathan Bennett until the five day trial starts on September 8. No application for bail was made.

The case was adjourned for a further hearing on June 25.

The supermarket fishmonger was arrested last month by officers investigating Shannon's disappearance.

He is accused of 11 specimen offences of possession of indecent images of children. It is alleged Meehan possessed indecent images of children aged between four and 16, graded at levels one to four - on a scale where one is the least serious and five is the most serious. They were allegedly found on one of two computers at the family home in Dewsbury Moor, where he lived with Matthews, 32, for around five years.

Shannon went missing on February 19 and was discovered hidden in the base of a bed in a flat just one mile from her home after a 24 day search by police. Meehan's uncle, Michael Donovan, 39, of Lidgate Gardens, Batley Carr, has been charged with Shannon's kidnap and imprisonment.

He will go on trial at Leeds Crown Court on November 11 alongside Matthews, who is charged with child neglect and perverting the course of justice.

Meehan was later arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice in connection with the alleged abduction of the nine-year-old and was bailed pending further inquiries.

Other members of Meehan's family have also been arrested and bailed by officers investigating Shannon's disappearance.